Mentors support local TN Promise applicants as they transition from high school to college. Mentors remind students of important deadlines, serve as a trusted college resource and, most important, encourage students to reach their full potential. The time commitment is small, only about one hour per month, but the impact can be life changing for students, particularly those in their family that are the first to attend college. TN Promise provides free tuition for a two-year degree for all Tennessee high school graduates and covers what applications for other grants and scholarships do not.

The program needs 9,000 mentors annually to ensure each of the 64,000 applicants is paired with this important support system. While the financial component of the program might grab many students’ immediate attention, the mentor support system is the backbone of the program.

“Anyone can be a tnAchieves mentor,” tnAchieves Deputy Director of Outreach Graham Thomas said in a news release. “If you have one hour per month and the desire to help students achieve their dreams, you will make a great mentor. We will train and provide you with all the information you need. Each year, our 9,000 mentors represent the heart of the program.”

Since its inception in 2008, tnAchieves has helped more than 300,000 students navigate the college-going process and has trained more than 42,000 volunteer mentors.

Potential mentors must be 21 years of age, are subject to a background check and complete a one hour training session. For more information, or to apply, visit www.tnachieves.org or contact Thomas at (615) 604-1306 or graham@tnachieves.org.